Think I finally started right...

[halfseminole]

All right, now you guys can tell me what I did wrong.  

I cut myself a nice red maple down today, about four inches thick at the top and maybe five at the bottom. I completely debarked it and painted the ends with paraffin.  I've got it in my wood room with the ceiling fan on.  I don't have anything heavier than a farrier's rasp to work it down to floor tiller with, and I'm not able to work extremely long stretches any more anyway.  

I'm hoping to build something like a mollegabet style with this one, or even better a Micmac style bow.  The wood is free, it's only costing me effort, and I have more trees like this in the yard.  I know green wood is easier to work, but I'd have to at the earliest wait till tomorrow to start removing wood.  When I do, what am I aiming for?  Do I remove from both sides, just one side, what?  I'm determined to make a bow from my own land yet, I'm just unsure how to get there.

Obligatory pictures shall commence.

 

 

 

Seriously considering cutting a few more to break.  Just have to be careful of my bad leg and my heart.  I'm remembering to cut them long so I can remove where I chopped at it with an axe when I start to work.  I don't have a hatchet, and I'm not sure I would trust myself with it if I did.  Just the axe, a farrier's rasp, a thumb plane and a cat.  But I'm sure I'll figure it out.  I always do.

[D]

That's great.  Look forward to seeing how she turns out.

[Pat B]

If it is 4" in diameter I'd say split it in half lengthwise and seal the backs. Since you stripped the bark there is a good chance the stave will check as it dries out. If you half it and seal the back you can prevent this from happening.
 Red maple isn't the best choice for a bow but if you make it long enough and wide enough you should be fine.

[halfseminole]

I was under the impression that I was supposed to strip the bark.  Not sure what woods you do or don't.  I'll take it out tomorrow and try to split it.  I thought about it, but I wasn't exactly sure how to do it.

Still looking for a hickory of proper size to use.  It's easier to drop them this time of year, I normally don't get ticks.  After a round with Lyme this summer I'd rather not have more issues.  Is it possible to split it with just an axe?  I've got a hammer to drive it cleanly, but I don't have extra wedges.  I'm trying to do this right, but I'm honestly much more familiar with board bows.  Decided to step out and try something different.

[Eric Krewson]

you need to resize your pictures

[Pat B]

Start the split in the center of the pole and work out to the ends. I find I can control the split better that way. Once you get the initial split you can use wood wedges to help and they are cheap and easy to make.
  It is hard to tell from the pics but if that sapling grew twisted or spiraled the split will be that way also.